McGrath's team, the Doncaster Dragons Baseball Club, broke the news via their Twitter account. The 17-year-old left-hander was reportedly choosing between attending college in the United States or signing a contract with a pro team. Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe notes that McGrath stands at 6-foot-3 and reportedly possesses a good fastball. The Red Sox have yet to confirm the signing.

McGrath played for Australia in the recent 18-and-under Oceania championships, a precursor to the world championship tournament in the summer. He struck out nine over five innings in a victory against New Zealand.

McGrath, 17, is 6-foot-3 and is said to have a good fastball.

This is all I can find on the kid, if anyone else has any info on the kid, lets hear it!

This may be the new way for us to exert our financial might, since the draft is now structured to minimize big team dominance. International signings is one way to gain on most other teams in the future.

Great for the future but of no help to the team this year. We need another short term starter this year, DAN.Posted by AL34

It could easily help the team in 2013 or 2014 though. Not as a direct contributor mind you, but as a trade piece. Look at Alcantara being dealt to the A's in the Bailey deal. Most of these signings are just lotto ticket signings since there is so much more projection involved with a 17 y/o than a college arm.

McGrath played for Australia in the recent 18-and-under Oceania championships, a precursor to the world championship tournament in the summer. He struck out nine over five innings in a victory against New Zealand. McGrath, 17, is 6-foot-3 and is said to have a good fastball. This is all I can find on the kid, if anyone else has any info on the kid, lets hear it!Posted by stodknocker

Reportedly he's hitting 91 on the gun with his fastball. Certainly impressive for his age. He was also the most sought after Australian teenage of the past 10 years for what that's worth.

According to one major league source, there were 15 big league organizations interested in McGrath, who narrowed down his decision to three teams at the end. A longtime Red Sox fan, McGrath turned down richer offers from other teams in order to sign with the Sox, the source added. The Red Sox were represented at Tuesday's signing by the organization's scouting director for the Pacific region, Jon Deeble, who first saw the big lefty pitch four years ago.

McGrath was thought to be leaning toward playing college baseball in the United States until recently. He was thought to have drawn the most interest from major league clubs of any Australian teenager in at least the past 10 years.